Chapter XXII

1880-1881.

A Little Stay by the Mediterranean--Am Offered a Position
in China--An Article on the Swiss Rhine--Also One on My
Experiences in the Rebel Army--Two Letters from General
Sherman--Grant and the Presidency--Says the Bare Narrative
of My Escape from Prison Would Be an Epic--Banquet at
the Legation--I Write for the New York Tribune an Exposé
of How Certain European Communities Sent Paupers to the
United States--Am Violently Attacked for It by Many
American Journals and Reprimanded by State Department--
Swiss Government Complains--Investigation Follows--I Am
Justified--Letter from Sherman as to His Son Tom--Visit
America--Secretary Blaine Compliments Me--The Press Changes
Its Tone and New Laws Are Adopted as to Immigration in United
States and Switzerland--Tribune Says Editorially, “Mr. Byers
Deserves the Thanks of the American People”--A Little Visit
to the Poet Longfellow, and the Alcotts; also to the Author
of “America.” 189

CHAPTER XXIII.

1881.

Elm and All Its People Destroyed by an Avalanche--A Foot
Trip in Ireland--Fenians--Red Coats--Poverty--The
Queen Hooted--Out of Jail and a Hero--Muckross Abbey by
Moonlight--An Irish Funeral--A Duplicate Blarney Stone--
Letters from General Sherman--The Duke of Wellington--The
Assassination of President Garfield. 205